Edward Gibbon Quotes - Page 5

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• The sentiment of fear is nearly allied to that of hatred.

  Edward Gibbon

  Hatred, Sentiments

  Edward Gibbon (1869). “The Crusades: A.D. 1095-1261”, p.53

  12 Copy quote

• An absolute monarch, who is rich without patrimony, may be charitable without merit; and Constantine too easily believed that he should purchase the favour of Heaven if he maintained the idle at the expense of the industrious, and distributed among the saints the wealth of the republic.

  Edward Gibbon

  History, Heaven, Saint

  Edward Gibbon (1998). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.388, Wordsworth Editions

  4 Copy quote

• The style of an author should be the image of his mind, but the choice and command of language is the fruit of exercise.

  Edward Gibbon

  Writing, Exercise, Choices

  Edward Gibbon (1837). “The Miscellaneous Works of Edward Gibbon: With Memoirs of His Life and Writing Composed by Himself, Illustrated from His Letters with Occasional Notes and Narrative”, p.92

  14 Copy quote

• The peace of the Eastern church was invaded by a swarm of fanatics [monks], incapable of fear, or reason, or humanity; and the Imperial troops acknowledged, without shame, that they were much less apprehensive of an encounter with the fiercest Barbarians.

  Edward Gibbon

  Humanity, Church, Encounters

  Edward Gibbon (1846). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.349

  7 Copy quote

• It was here that I suspended my religious inquiries (aged 17).

  Edward Gibbon

  Religious, Inquiry, Suspended

  'Memoirs of My Life' (1796) ch. 4

  4 Copy quote

• The Gauls derided the hairy and gigantic savages of the North; their rustic manners, dissonant joy, voracious appetite, and their horrid appearance, equally disgusting to the sight and to the smell.

  Edward Gibbon

  Smell, Sight, Joy

  Edward Gibbon (1789). “The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire”, p.245

  6 Copy quote

• Recluse fanatics have few ideas or sentiments to communicate . . .

  Edward Gibbon

  Ideas, Recluse, Communicate

  Edward Gibbon (2009). “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition”, p.844, Modern Library

  5 Copy quote

• The awful mysteries of the Christian faith and worship were concealed from the eyes of strangers, and even of catechumens, with an affected secrecy, which served to excite their wonder and curiosity.

  Edward Gibbon

  Christian, Eye, History

  Edward Gibbon (2016). “THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (All 6 Volumes): From the Height of the Roman Empire, the Age of Trajan and the Antonines - to the Fall of Byzantium; Including a Review of the Crusades, and the State of Rome during the Middle Ages”, p.881, e-artnow

  4 Copy quote

• bizarreness masqueraded as creativity.

  Edward Gibbon

  Creativity, Shock

  18 Copy quote

• That public virtue which among the ancients was denominated patriotism, is derived from a strong sense of our own interest in the preservation and prosperity of the free government of which we are members. Such a sentiment, which had rendered the legions of the republic almost invincible, could make but a very feeble impression on the mercenary servants of a despotic prince; and it became necessary to supply that defect by other motives, of a different, but not less forcible nature; honour and religion.

  Edward Gibbon

  Strong, Government, History

  Edward Gibbon (2009). “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition”, p.15, Modern Library

  9 Copy quote

• To the University of Oxford I acknowledge no obligation; and she will as cheerfully renounce me for a son, as I am willing to disclaim her for a mother. I spent fourteen months at Magdalen College: they proved the fourteen months the most idle and unprofitable of my whole life.

  Edward Gibbon

  Mother, Son, College

  'Memoirs of My Life' (1796) ch. 2

  16 Copy quote

• Suspicious princes often promote the last of mankind, from a vain persuasion that those who have no dependence except on their favor will have no attachment except to the person of their benefactor.

  Edward Gibbon

  Attachment, Favors, Lasts

  Edward Gibbon, Henry Hart Milman (1838). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.154

  9 Copy quote

• In the various states of society, armies are recruited from very different motives. Barbarians are urged by the love of war; the citizens of a free republic may be prompted by a principle of duty; the subjects, or at least the nobles, of a monarchy, are animated by a sentiment of honor; but the timid and luxurious inhabitants of a declining empire must be allured into the service by the hopes of profit, or compelled by the dread of punishment.

  Edward Gibbon

  Military, War, Army

  Edward Gibbon (2016). “EDWARD GIBBON Premium Collection: Historiographical Works, Memoirs & Letters: Including "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.731, e-artnow

  7 Copy quote

• The gravest of the ecclesiastical historians, Eusebius himself, indirectly confesses that he has related whatever might redound to the glory, and that he has suppressed all that could tend to the disgrace, of religion.

  Edward Gibbon

  Religion, Atheism, Might

  Edward Gibbon (1875). “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.79

  7 Copy quote

• I was never less alone than when by myself.

  Edward Gibbon

  Loneliness, Being Alone, Feeling Alone

  Edward Gibbon, John Baker Holroyd (2014). “Miscellaneous Works of Edward Gibbon, Esquire”, p.83, Cambridge University Press

  19 Copy quote

• The Romans, who so coolly and so concisely mention the acts of justice which were exercised by the legions, reserve their compassion and their eloquence for their own sufferings, when the provinces were invaded and desolated by the arms of the successful Barbarians.

  Edward Gibbon

  Successful, Compassion, History

  Edward Gibbon (2009). “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition”, p.496, Modern Library

  7 Copy quote

• The philosopher, who with calm suspicion examines the dreams and omens, the miracles and prodigies, of profane or even of ecclesiastical history, will probably conclude that, if the eyes of the spectators have sometimes been deceived by fraud, the understanding of the readers has much more frequently been insulted by fiction.

  Edward Gibbon

  Dream, Eye, History

  Edward Gibbon (2015). “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire V2: the History Focus”, p.155, 谷月社

  8 Copy quote

• Agriculture is the foundation of manufactures; since the productions of nature are the materials of art. Under the Roman empire, the labour of an industrious and ingenious people was variously, but incessantly employed, in the service of the rich. In their dress, their table, their houses, and their furniture, the favourites of fortune united every refinement of conveniency, of elegance, and of splendour, whatever could soothe their pride or gratify their sensuality.

  Edward Gibbon

  Art, Pride, Agriculture

  Edward Gibbon (1841). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1: With Maps”, p.33

  7 Copy quote

• A state of skepticism and suspense may amuse a few inquisitive minds. But the practice of superstition is so congenial to the multitude that, if they are forcibly awakened, they still regret the loss of their pleasing vision.

  Edward Gibbon

  Regret, Loss, Practice

  Edward Gibbon, Henry Hart Milman, M. Guizot (François), William Smith (1872). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.68

  5 Copy quote

• To a lover of books the shops and sales in London present irresistible temptations.

  Edward Gibbon

  Book, Temptation, London

  Edward Gibbon (1854). “The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire, with notes by Milman and Guizot. Ed. by W. Smith”, p.97

  10 Copy quote

• At that time the archiepiscopal throne of Alexandria was filled by Theophilus, the perpetual enemy of peace and virtue; a bold, bad man, whose hands were alternately polluted with gold and with blood.

  Edward Gibbon

  Men, Blood, Hands

  Edward Gibbon (2015). “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire V3: the History Focus”, p.48, 谷月社

  9 Copy quote

• The love of spectacles was the taste, or rather passion, of the Syrians: the most skilful artists were procured form the adjacent cities; a considerable share of the revenue was devoted to the public amusements; and the magnificence of the games of the theatre and circus was considered as the happiness, and as the glory, of Antioch.

  Edward Gibbon

  Passion, Artist, Games

  Edward Gibbon (1998). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.510, Wordsworth Editions

  9 Copy quote

• Imam Hussain's sacrifice is for all groups and communities, an example of the path of rightousness.

  Edward Gibbon

  Sacrifice, Community, Groups

  92 Copy quote

• War, in its fairest form, implies a perpetual violation of humanity and justice.

  Edward Gibbon

  War, Justice, Humanity

  Edward Gibbon, Francis Parkman, William H. Prescott, Theodore Roosevelt (2012). “The Modern Library Essential World History 4-Book Bundle: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Abridged); Montcalm and Wolfe; History of the Conquest of Mexico; The Naval War of 1812”, p.871, Modern Library

  5 Copy quote

• Vicissitudes of fortune, which spares neither man nor the proudest of his works, which buries empires and cities in a common grave.

  Edward Gibbon

  Men, Cities, Empires

  Edward Gibbon (1821). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.358

  31 Copy quote

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